By Watson Cook
With two weeks remaining in the regular season,
the IA Colonels moved a step closer to securing a playoff berth with a 42-21
win on the road at Kirk Academy Friday night. The Raiders simply had no answer
for the Colonels rushing attack as IA piled up 470 yards on the
ground.
Ashton Knight set the table for the Colonels' big night with a 55-yard touchdown run on the third play of the game to highlight a 3-play, 63-yard drive and give IA the early 6-0 lead. The 2-point attempt was unsuccessful. The Colonel defense, which forced four turnovers on the night, stopped the Raiders with a three and out on their first possession and the offense quickly took advantage. Taking over at their own 38 following the punt, the Colonels needed only five plays to strike again as Trey Roberson would find paydirt from 11 yards out. Knight added the 2-point run to put IA up 14-0 midway through the opening quarter. The Raiders threatened on their following drive, getting inside the Colonel 30 before Charles Downs picked off a pass near the goal line. The interception was Downs' first of the year and first of two on the night. The Colonels however, would return the favor by coughing up the ball on the third play of the next drive. The fumble proved costly as Kirk found the endzone on the third play of the second quarter to cut the IA lead to 14-7 following the PAT. The Colonels and Raiders went back and forth in the second quarter with each team scoring on every possession. The Raiders put 14 more points on the board in the quarter, as did the Colonels. Knight and Roberson added touchdown runs of 56 and 20 yards respectively. IA converted one of two 2-point attempts (Knight run) to go to halftime with a 28-21 lead.
The defense came up big in the second half for the Colonels. After forcing a punt on the Raiders' first drive of the half, the two teams exchanged fumbles. While Kirk could not take advantage of the IA fumble, the Colonels made sure they got something out of the Raider turnover. Taking over at their own 42, the Colonels went 58 yards on 4 plays, capped by Knight's third touchdown of the night, a 10-yard run with 5:36 to play in the third. Knight added the 2-point run to push the Colonel lead to 36-21. The Raiders' stuggles in the second half would continue as Hunter Vance and Downs each came up with an interception on the next two Kirk possessions. Following Downs' pick, IA took over at the Kirk 43. One play was all it took for Wheeler Timbs to sprint 43 yards to the endzone with 9:41 to play in the fourth quarter. The 2-point try was unsuccessful, leaving the Colonels with a 42-21 lead which would hold to be the final score. The Colonel offense was sloppy for the remainder of the quarter. Thankfully the defense, led by Wilson Reed's 17 total tackle performance, was able to keep the Raiders from putting additional points on the board.
The win improved the Colonels to 4-4 on the year, 1-1 in district play. A road trip to take on district-leading North Delta looms this Friday night. Kickoff from Batesville is set for 7:00.
Ashton Knight set the table for the Colonels' big night with a 55-yard touchdown run on the third play of the game to highlight a 3-play, 63-yard drive and give IA the early 6-0 lead. The 2-point attempt was unsuccessful. The Colonel defense, which forced four turnovers on the night, stopped the Raiders with a three and out on their first possession and the offense quickly took advantage. Taking over at their own 38 following the punt, the Colonels needed only five plays to strike again as Trey Roberson would find paydirt from 11 yards out. Knight added the 2-point run to put IA up 14-0 midway through the opening quarter. The Raiders threatened on their following drive, getting inside the Colonel 30 before Charles Downs picked off a pass near the goal line. The interception was Downs' first of the year and first of two on the night. The Colonels however, would return the favor by coughing up the ball on the third play of the next drive. The fumble proved costly as Kirk found the endzone on the third play of the second quarter to cut the IA lead to 14-7 following the PAT. The Colonels and Raiders went back and forth in the second quarter with each team scoring on every possession. The Raiders put 14 more points on the board in the quarter, as did the Colonels. Knight and Roberson added touchdown runs of 56 and 20 yards respectively. IA converted one of two 2-point attempts (Knight run) to go to halftime with a 28-21 lead.
The defense came up big in the second half for the Colonels. After forcing a punt on the Raiders' first drive of the half, the two teams exchanged fumbles. While Kirk could not take advantage of the IA fumble, the Colonels made sure they got something out of the Raider turnover. Taking over at their own 42, the Colonels went 58 yards on 4 plays, capped by Knight's third touchdown of the night, a 10-yard run with 5:36 to play in the third. Knight added the 2-point run to push the Colonel lead to 36-21. The Raiders' stuggles in the second half would continue as Hunter Vance and Downs each came up with an interception on the next two Kirk possessions. Following Downs' pick, IA took over at the Kirk 43. One play was all it took for Wheeler Timbs to sprint 43 yards to the endzone with 9:41 to play in the fourth quarter. The 2-point try was unsuccessful, leaving the Colonels with a 42-21 lead which would hold to be the final score. The Colonel offense was sloppy for the remainder of the quarter. Thankfully the defense, led by Wilson Reed's 17 total tackle performance, was able to keep the Raiders from putting additional points on the board.
The win improved the Colonels to 4-4 on the year, 1-1 in district play. A road trip to take on district-leading North Delta looms this Friday night. Kickoff from Batesville is set for 7:00.
